“Paxton was declared the winner,” Harrison told her.
A rustle sounded from the trees, a squirrel jumping from branch to branch, showering the ground with colorful foliage. Paxton heard a whiz and the squirrel was suddenly falling to the ground, a shining arrow through it.
Zandora lowered her bow. “I feel better. A little.”
Paxton grinned as Zandora stomped away with her sisters, grabbing up the impaled rodent on her way.
Harrison shook his head. “Remind me to stay on her good side.”
“Bloody right.”
They walked in silence, a strange unspoken tension between them.
Paxton was relieved to return to his tent, where Tiern had wound himself tightly in his blankets with his face to the wall. Paxton sighed quietly to himself and climbed onto his own cot. He looked at each of his fingers and thumbs—the paint was still intact, so for now he would stay. He would play it day-by-day, though it was more reckless than he cared to be.
He fell asleep, dreaming unwillingly of coconut and berry breezes.
Chapter
35
The view from Aerity’s window showed the trees had lost half their leaves, though the temperature was unseasonably warm and sunny. The princess left off her shawl when Vixie came to her chamber, asking her to visit the stables for a ride. She donned her leather riding pants, the sturdy material exquisitely soft and thin, with boots and a cream-colored tunic. They found Wyneth in the hall in her riding outfit as well.
“You’re joining us?” Aerity couldn’t help the grin that stretched across her face when Wyneth nodded.
“I heard there were no beast sightings last night,” Vixie said.
Aerity and Wyneth both nodded, quiet. The princess feared what would come of Lochlanach if the creature wasn’t destroyed soon.
Guards surrounded them as the girls came to the stables and mounted their saddled horses. Wyneth and Aerity trotted their girls around a ring, Aerity’s legs still sore from their all-day ride yesterday.
“Lean in and relax,” called Vixie.
But she couldn’t help it—she always felt so unsteady when the horses gathered speed . . . unless she was nestled against Paxton. She let the other girls move ahead without her.
“Brilliant riding,” one of the guards called as Vixie blew past him.
Aerity and Wyneth finished after an hour and led their horses to the stables, where they found the Zandalee women readying their large steeds. The leader, Zandora, gave Aerity a nod.
“It is a fine day for riding,” Aerity said in Zorfinan.
“Jes.” Zandora mounted gracefully, along with the two others. She wondered what their hair looked like since they always kept it covered. It gave them a sense of mystery. “Your climate is strange. Hot one day. Cold the next.”
Aerity laughed. “Aye. As temperamental as a redhead.”
Now it was Zandora’s turn to laugh. She looked out at the forest of maroons, oranges, and yellows, mixed with evergreens. “But your trees, they are very beautiful. We have nothing like that.” Before Aerity could respond, Zandora dug her heels into her horse’s side and was off, the others following.
“What did she say to you?” Wyneth was watching the women ride away in awe.
Aerity almost forgot they’d been speaking another language. “Commenting on our crazy weather.”
“Aye, I’m sweating today.” At the sound of heavy hooves and cheers from the show ring, Wyneth smiled. “Sounds like your sister is entertaining.”
They sent their horses off with a couple stable hands and rushed to the show ring on the far side of the stables. Sure enough, Vixie had a crowd of hunters and royal workers watching and cheering as her white horse made clean, high jumps. Vixie’s bright hair soared behind her, her face exhilarated. Aerity couldn’t help but smile.
Vixie sped past Aerity and Wyneth on the far side, sending up a trail of dust that the girls waved from their faces. As the dust settled, the princess searched the hunters and felt a pang of worried disappointment at the absence of Paxton. Had he left? Her stomach dropped at the possibility, but then she saw Tiern, who was far too happy for a boy who’d been abandoned by his brother. Paxton must be around somewhere.
Tiern watched avidly, cheering with a wide smile as Vixie took to the far path of the ring and began her aerial routine. This part always made Aerity nervous.
Vixie’s instructor called out careful praises as Vixie balanced herself on the moving horse, holding the saddle’s special handles with her hands and angling her elbows to the center. She raised one leg, toe pointed perfectly, and then the other, until she was doing a handstand atop the cantering animal. Wyneth and the hunters clapped wildly while Aerity held her breath until her sister was safely seated in the saddle again.
Tiern whistled through his fingers.